Active Aperture-Integrated Geodesic Lens Antenna for Future Multibeam/Beam-Steering Wireless Links

Research Project, 2024 – 2027

Based on the concept of ‘double-layer lens´, this project pioneers a new concept of `aperture-integrated active lens´, intended for the multibeam antenna solution with high transmit power, high directivity, high efficiency, for future wireless links at millimeter-wave frequency bands and beyond.
The specific aims are to (1) develop a passive lens with discretized aperture,(2) develop a generic active module containing multiple power amplifiers, (3) develop a lens-based power Multiple-In-Multiple-Out (MIMO) power combiner based on (1) and (2) and, (4) realize a demonstrator of active lens multibeam antenna in Ka-band intended for satellite communications, based on (3).The project will be organized in 4 work packages (WPs), each corresponding to one aim spanning 1 year, and they are to be carried out in sequence because each of WP1-4 adds an additional approach or capability.The project would (1) offer a timely substitute and/or a beneficial complement to existing antenna solutions for many up-coming use cases in millimeter-wave frequencies, also expandable to even higher frequency bands for the long-term evolution of wireless technologies, (2) offer a geodesic lens-based power combining technology platform crucial for applications such as satellite communications, wireless power transferring, and particle accelerators in physics, (3) innovating the general research of lenses, by introducing additional degrees of freedom for advanced beamforming and power allocation.